I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YBjpP4xYa
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"Sasha! SASHA!"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j0BGvolmB
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No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK2oAwt2iy
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUyTOw3g8A
I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOdhH8Zntp
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAmpEEtUPu
I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAunt52hjkq
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"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreDwKNFVCy
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f6OOy8Pgn
I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg7rMeXUUC
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Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNMVQQcL9F
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"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgQcdWUv6A
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"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8TcXv0Sof
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"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCw7vrDDXH
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRU0RxrSE4
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdO7mmil8D
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g6SF9HgxI
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxI56obTzp
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGYl47olUs
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinvqTefYyB
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"I haven't looked yet."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5vIZNSe9B
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"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8ddixNVi3
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Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh7QUJ1DfI
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F8iUNJHFi
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQurJmTF4T
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I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatktk0cExd
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eQ5wnfxeK
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2hVnMvMLH
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpqCYxUBij
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjxDVwqWmC
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"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lp3ShusKG
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMQggXEVNJ
I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6gVnMbjiT
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAIME4PmZo
Cool. But also terrifying.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspWrSGY6HQ
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The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSFgayL0y1
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoJ5Wd9MeT
Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB51pf0zSg
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwAscogufw
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTUaEa6CtQ
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"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W4AOwgkx2
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She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGtN3Wa9tV
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cHN5JWSAD
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXoHjaNKsM
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"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmz6MLsYmY
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGzC1ptqHE
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnoqsoWY3e
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"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieGSjIX1oQ
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I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTStPLyXwe
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"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMMkY9eaKl
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXSiMSJUwf
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm54umwN9mh
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"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tc4Og32It
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhlLAl6lDP
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72PhV54R16
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXYO64wOKh
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxetkxjCZsk
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"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TrgpYaAFg
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Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslfBZ5GxC0
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BcA7TR54v
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAATAZp0oSR
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLAvaprGsr
"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAHv3JhdTD
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWgVKSxSgE
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBxk9ryro0
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"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHrGpRxnSc
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvBOeqzsNH
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnDM98P0PD
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU5TsA7TEP
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYVaEDIBgF
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tmf7K9qyx
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hiomq5MHj
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhBYuBYEd6
"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kL6eTn2nO
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I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdN9pmp5p6
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4PYySqrNv
"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGAbW6vzmf
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSjUVaNzJ1
I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡechFDGtP9T
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO8dPGneS6
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KbiI1Us6m
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPdZlM7qM2
"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBwW22OpKm
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItYvo4fBK9
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5al8ibeSl
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsyuk3oDm0
I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zS5g9yri6
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The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwQXuWVLEF
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcPrbpt3yQ
------
Penana
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